Political Poll:

[Raspewtin]

I really like Browne's stance on taxes. I would have never considered voting for a third party if I hadn't actually read the info. I may vote for him. Thanks Buddha Bart and JellyBaby.

 

[BoberFett]

Ornery's questionnaire is fine, but I prefer this one:

World's Smallest Political Quiz

 

[CyberSax]

Mine came out, Alan Keyes, Dick Cheney, Howard Philips, George W Bush... with Al Gore at the very end. In all honesty though, I think a vote for any third party candidate for this particular election would be a wasted vote. Like Nader? Vote Gore. Like Browne? Vote Bush. Nothing wrong with supporting third parties, but this happens to be a *very* critical election as it will decide the fate of the Supreme Court, Social Services Reforms, Taxation, etc.

 

[Ornery]

Here ya go BoberFett and JellyBaby. Notice how the GOP and Libertarian candidates have the same opinions on most important issues? Notice who is usually the odd man out? Anybody that would vote for a candidate that doesn't think the same way they do must be a pig headed idiot!

Harry Browne Libertarian
[L]http://www.selectsmart.com/SPEAKOUT/results.php3?more=now&mid=4[/L]

George W. Bush Republican
[L]http://www.selectsmart.com/SPEAKOUT/results.php3?more=now&mid=6[/L]

Alan Keyes Republican
[L]http://www.selectsmart.com/SPEAKOUT/results.php3?more=now&mid=7[/L]

Albert Gore Jr. Democrat
[L]http://www.selectsmart.com/SPEAKOUT/results.php3?more=now&mid=9[/L]


Abortion issues:

• Harry Browne -- "I oppose abortion..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Pro-life. Does not support abortion except in cases where fetal death is a collateral consequence of efforts to save a mother's life...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Pro-choice...

Affirmative action:

• Harry Browne -- "I oppose Affirmative Action..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Opposes quotas and racial preferences.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Opposes affirmative action on the contention that it divides the people, and patronizes minority groups.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Supports affirmative action.

Crime:

• Harry Browne -- "I favor an end to the War on Drugs..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Would increase sentences.
  
  Alan Keyes -- "I've never been somebody who thought that you should be applying capital punishment indiscriminately. But I do believe that it is necessary in certain instances in order for a society to show due respect for life."
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- ...he believes there is no more fundamental responsibility than to make Americans safer and more secure -- in their homes, on the sidewalks, and in their communities...

Defense spending:

• Harry Browne -- "...stop American interference in the policies of other countries."
  
  George W. Bush -- Supports rebuilding America's military strength to keep the peace...
  
  Alan Keyes -- He believes we have carried cutbacks too far.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- ...supports a strong military and calls for continued development of advanced weaponry.

Drug policy:

• Harry Browne -- "I would end drug prohibition and the War on Drugs..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Increase penalties for selling drugs. Impose capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- "The hours between 2 & 6 are the most perilous hours of the day for our children. A teenager is most likely to take up smoking between the hours of 2 & 6. That means we must engage our children in positive, constructive activities between the hours of 2 & 6, [by expanding] access to quality after-school care for all our children."

Homosexual issues:

• Harry Browne -- "The federal government has no Constitutional authority to legislate about groups, about marriage, about any personal matters."
  
  George W. Bush -- Bush opposes the extension of hate crime laws to protect gays and homosexual adoption.
  
  Alan Keyes -- "the effort to equate homosexual and lesbian relations with legal marriage represents a destructive assault on the heterosexual, marriage-based family..."
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Supported ENDA, an annually proposed, yet not yet passed, federal employment non-discrimination law which would protect gays and lesbians in the workplace...

Education money:

• Harry Browne -- "I would remove the federal government from education entirely..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Supports school choice.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Strongly favor school choice approaches...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- "I oppose vouchers..."

Environment:

• Harry Browne -- "The two largest sources of pollution in America are:
  (1) government agencies polluting their own property; and
  (2) government allowing private companies to pollute government lakes, rivers, roads, and lands with strip-mining, clear-cutting, and toxic-waste-dumping..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Believes environmental standards must be based on sound science, solutions based on market driven technologies...
  
  Alan Keyes -- He supports weighing the impact of environmental legislation on jobs, private property rights, and economic concerns.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Al Gore has long been associated with environmental protection...

Evolution:

• Harry Browne -- "I believe in the separation of school and state, which makes the question of what to teach in school completely irrelevant to the government. Parents would choose whether to send their children to a school that teaches evolution or a school that teaches creationism. The government would have no say in the matter."
  
  George W. Bush -- Believes both evolution and creationism are valid educational subjects...
  
  Alan Keyes -- ...Favors only local control of schools, which would open the door for the teaching of Creationism in public schools...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Favors the teaching of evolution in the public schools...

Foreign policy:

• Harry Browne -- "I favor no government aid whatsoever..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Interventionist...
  
  Alan Keyes -- Non-interventionist...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Interventionist.

Gun control:

• Harry Browne -- "I oppose gun control..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Opposes gun control.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Opposes.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Supports gun control legislation...

Health care:

• Harry Browne -- "The federal government is the biggest barrier to good health. Medicare and Medicaid have run up the price of health care; federal and state mandates have priced health insurance outside the reach of young people; federal regulations have overloaded doctors and made them less able to treat their patients efficiently and inexpensively. I would abolish the FDA so that life-saving medicines are available sooner. The federal government has no Constitutional authority to be involved in health care."
  
  George W. Bush -- Supports medical savings accounts as a health insurance option for all Americans. Supports giving patients in federally governed health care plans protections similar to those already enacted in Texas; opposes legislation that would supersede reforms already enacted by states.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Favors allowing Americans to set up a tax-free medical savings account, which would be taxed if used for any purpose other than medical costs...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Supports. Wants to expand the availability of high quality health care to all Americans, especially seniors and children...

Moral issues:

• Harry Browne -- "It is ludicrous to look to Washington for moral and ethical leadership..."
  
  George W. Bush -- Proposed spending at least as much on abstinence education as on teen contraception programs.
  
  Alan Keyes -- Supports school prayer, and a parent's right to choose a child's school...
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- On the votes that the Christian Voice considered to be the most important in 1991-1992, Gore as a US Senator voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time.

Social security:

• Harry Browne -- "I would take Social Security completely away from the politicians -- and care for today's retirees with private annuities paid for by selling off federal assets the government has no Constitutional authority to own."
  
  George W. Bush -- Pledged to fulfill the solemn commitment of Social Security; no reduction in benefits for retirees or near retirees Called for dedicating all Social Security money to Social Security. Washington Post report: May 15 ?? "George W. Bush called today for dramatic changes in Social Security and Medicare, the government's two biggest entitlements programs, including the creation of personal retirement accounts that he said would extend the solvency of Social Security and allow all Americans to create wealth."
  
  Alan Keyes -- Believes we must "trust the capacity of people to make the right judgments about how to use their own money to provide for retirement..."
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Would protect. Wants to invest 62 percent of the budget surplus to keep Social Security going until 2055. Wants to work with Congress to maintain Social Security at least through 2075, but is wary of risky tax schemes. Acoording to an AP report on May15, 2000``You shouldn't have to roll the dice with your basic retirement security,'' Gore argued that the government ultimately will wind up bailing out those whose investments don't pan out. Gore would use savings from paying down the national debt to pump more money into the program and maintain Social Security much as it is today.

Tax policy:

• Harry Browne -- "I would make government so small that we can repeal the income tax and not replace it..."
  
  George W. Bush -- "This is not only no new taxes, this is tax cuts, so help me God..."
  
  Alan Keyes -- Wants to abolish the "socialist" income tax by replacing it with a national sales tax.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Wants to keep interest rates low and investment rate high. Aims for a balanced budget every year. Wants to continue "reinventing government" to eliminate wasteful spending.

Trade issues:

• Harry Browne -- "I believe you should be free to buy whatever you want from whoever is willing to sell it to you, anywhere in the world.
  
  George W. Bush -- Called for eliminating trade barriers and tariffs everywhere so "the whole world trades in freedom..."
  
  Alan Keyes -- Advocates trade controls. Believes that free government is more important than free trade.
  
  Albert Gore Jr. -- Free Trader.

 

[Moonbeam]

Geez BoberFett, your test made a left liberal out of me.


Hay Ornery, What's going on with your test. I got 69% agreement PERSONAL with Brown, but 0% ECONOMIC. Also, it seems that I didn't have to take the test since I would vote for Bader, Bradley, and Gore in that order and that's just how I tested. Interestingly enough, I only agree at maximum 55% in TOTAL. Maybe I should run. I promise to do what's best for you whether you like it or not.

 

[CyberSax]

That Harry Browne sure knows what he's talking about when it comes to health care I'd still vote for Bush though, because his views are similar enough, and he's more likely to win.

Another observation that I'll make is that most of the candidates agree on more issues than they disagree on (such as beefing up the millitary, free trade, etc.). The issues that are likely to decide the election are abortion, and school vouchers. With abortion, it's almost split 50/50, and it makes for a bad campaign subject. But Bush has considerable potential to woo in the soccer mom vote from Al Bore if he stresses his support for the school voucher program, which pretty much all Americans - with the exception of teachers and their unions - are in favor of.

 

[Fandu]

As a Canadian looking in on American Politics I really shake my head. George W. Bush has stated publically that he wants to increase the new missle defence system, and does not care if doing so re-ignites the arm race with Russia or China. From a Canadian perspective, this is a very childish move, Bush thinks that we are Americans and we're better than everyone else. Well that may be so, but if China drops a couple nuclear bombs on you because they see this missle defence system as a threat, was that such a good idea to build it in the first place?

Al Gore on the other hand would like to re-evaluate the missle defence system and preferable downsize it to avoid any new arms races. Although I don't like Lieberman's policies on technology and computer games, I'd still rather have a couple more warnings on the box rather than the air raid siren.

 

[Ug45]

HARRY BROWNE!!! The only canidate that could actually be a good president. But, since Browne has no chance of winning, will have to vote for Bush do to the fact that Gore is everything that I despise in this world, and INSANE.

 

[optoman]

Gore because Bush is too much of a p@ssy to debate with Gore in Massachusetts. Bush said that the state was too democratic and he doesn't think it would be fair to him to debate in that state. WTF - Bush is affraid to go one on one with Gore. Bush is an idiot.

 

[BoberFett]

Ornery

Talking and walking are two different actions. Republicans can say they want smaller government, but I have yet to see anything that resembles steps towards it.

 

[Ornery]

I don't have any bone to pick with Moonbeam on his choice. He disagrees with Bush on the issues, so votes with the Dems. Fandu brings up a very good reason why somebody might prefer not to vote for Bush. I disagree, but at least it's a valid reason.

optoman will be basing his vote on... ? Beats me! All that is going to happen with any debate is each candidate trying to bring voters over to their way of thinking. Could optoman be convinced to outlaw abortion? Can he be swayed to support vouchers? Could Bush convince him that privatizing SS is in his best interest? Is participation in any number of debates an issue in itself? Duh, I DON'T THINK SO! :|

 

[Ornery]

The GOP can do what they set out to do and here's proof!

I'd like to see the Democrat equivalent of this:

• REPUBLICAN OATH
  
  I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is government closest to the people.
  
  I believe that good government is based on the individual and that each person's ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
  
  I believe that free enterprise and the encouragement of individual initiative and incentive have given this nation an economic system second to none.
  
  I believe that sound money policy should be our goal.
  
  I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex or national origin. I believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity as well.
  
  I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.
  
  I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world.
  
  Finally, I believe that the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government."

And besides, would you vote Democrat because the GOP hasn't come through yet? What chance do we have of getting less government with Democrats in the White House? At least with the GOP it's a stated goal! Give the GOP the Congress and White House and see what can be accomplished in a hurry. The Contract with America got pushed through quickly despite all the feet dragging on the left.

 

[optoman]

Ornery - Good job on your earlier post. I like where Gore stands on the issues you presented. I am pro-choice, in favor of gun law, strongly believe that we need to help the environment by limiting fossil fuel emissions. In what I wrote before is that in October, Gore and Bush were going to debate in Mass. So the state started to get ready for the debate and spent a quarter of a million dollars. Bush recently decided not to have the debate because he (or someone in his campaign) decided that it would not be on fair grounds. he thought that Mass. was too democratic and he wouldn't stand a chance against Gore in the debate. My question is that if Bush thinks he is the better candidate, than why is he not coming her to debate? I would think that if Bush is the better candidate then he has nothing to be scared of and let him debate. I would love to see the both of them go at each other. I can't wait for the debates to begin. I am in favor of Gore at this time but if Bush can 'rub' me the right way then maybe he would get my vote. There is still a long way before the elections.

 

[Moonbeam]

Ornery, I like the Christian philosophy too, but not the inquisition. I think that demo sponcered law has done more for more people in general than repubs have in modern times, so would pay little attention to words and more to results. So many profess love of country and claim to despise part of what makes us us. Very strange.

As to women voting on personality, I mentioned elsewhere just how right such a choice can be. It's easy to hipnotize people with position papers and words carefully choisen to please. It's harder to overcome a gut instinct for the better person. To rely on reason, rashionalization, over feeling and instinct can lead us astray.

 

[BoberFett]

<< It's easy to hipnotize people with position papers and words carefully choisen to please. >>

Almost as easy as it is to fool people with a plastic smile and a handshake. They're all weasels, to say that one politician is a &quot;better person&quot; than another is quite humorous.

 

[Moonbeam]

Bobber, by carefully chosen words, iI mean all the cultivated expressions of politicians. It is just these that instinct sees through. I heard an interesting story about watergate time. There was some old fokes home with people with some kind of brain injury that prevented them from understanding words, but left them intact for reading facial expressions and body language etc, perhaps they had even developed them as compensation. The doctor they were being studied by a psychologist or somebody anyway reported finding them in a highly agitated state watching Nixon's I'm not a crook speach. When questioned, the source of their grief they reported that the president was lying, but about what they had no idea. Women, as you know, are better at this than men on average, due most likely to better connectivity between their hemispheres.

And please stop hurting my feelings with those anti politician jabs. I get the polititians I deserve.

 

[Napalm381]

Wow, 99 percent total, including 113% economic, in agreement with George W. How the hell did I get 113%???

 

[ltk007]

Obviously GW himself rigged the results

 

[Moonbeam]

And here I thought that only George agreed with himself 113%

 

[Ornery]

Quit making it so complicated. We just had a chance to lose a chunk of death tax penalties. Clinton vetoed it, Bush would have signed off on it. We had a chance to drop the marriage penalty. Clinton vetoes it, Bush would have passed it. These are just two recent issues. You think I'm wrong about Bush passing these bills? You think he wouldn't &quot;walk the walk&quot;?

We have a chance to privatize social security. Gore said no to it. Congress says they want it and so does Bush. You don't think Bush would pass this? We have a chance for tax reduction. More from Bush, less from Gore. Congress is for it. You want more or less? BTW, neither has offered to apply it to the debt, so that's moot. I'll take the money rather than let Gore spend it.

Vouchers have really panned out where they were given a chance. Gore says no to any more of it and Bush says do it. I don't think for one second that Bush would fail to deliver on any of the issues mentioned. If you disagree with these issues, that's one thing. But get off it about politicians lying and failing to deliver. We'd already have the marriage and death tax penalty behind us if Dole had been president.

 

[ParasiticFly]

Bush

Hes my gov. and all

 

[montanafan]

I'm leaning toward Gore right now because of what he has said on several of the issues important to me. Of course, Bush hasn't said that much on that many issues and perhaps he'll say something to impress me, but it bothers me that he doesn't seem to have that much of a plan for anything. It's almost as if he's waiting for someone else to come up with his plan and so he doesn't say anything until they get the script ready. I may be wrong, but that's definitely the impression I've been getting.

I know Ornery will be upset about this, and by the way I'm not a mom nor do I know anyone who plays soccer, but George W. just seems more like Bill Clinton than Al Gore does. George W. seems to be a spoiled rich daddy's boy party frat boy who's never really worked a day in his life and doesn't feel he should have to. I know that Al Gore had a rich powerful daddy too, but at least he went to Vietnam when he could have gotten the same sweet deal as George W. and he worked a regular job for a newspaper and he's had a lot more experience in government than George W. He seems to be geek-serious about the issues and I like that. Yes, that's why I'm leaning toward Al Gore; I want to see a serious geeky nerd in the White House.

 

[Buddha Bart]

wow, i'm suprised on how much responce i got by dropping harry browne's name.

Now everybody go out and convice one other person to vote bush in this election and browne in the *next* one. with a 4 year head start, we can at least put together enough people to get some decent press and become somthing that the public is aware of. There are LOTS Of people out there today that aren't libertarian because they've never HEARD of a libertarian.

bart

 

[Henry Kuo]

Gore

 

[Gizmology]

I would vote for Al Gore because he invented the Internet.

-Giz